Turnbull Turning Heads...

Conner Turnbull was acquired last season just two games into the year, from the Vancouver Titans in exchange for Donald Novy who had refused to negotiate a new contract with Maple Ridge. Conner had an up and down year, obviously playing on a weak Maple Ridge team that would finish dead last in the league by far. He finished the season a minus 26 and posted 5 goals and 15 assist with Maple Ridge in 46 games, good for 5th in team scoring.

This year Conner has become a completely different player. He started the year posting 10 points in the first 18 games, but has been on an absolute tear as of late posting 3 goals and 10 assist for 13 points during a point streak of five games! Not only has this streak propelled him into the scoring lead on the team but it's put him into the top 25 players in scoring in the league, a place where no other Mastodon is at the moment...
While the team can't say they are having a great year, they can stay they certainly are doing better this year than last. Maple Ridge has compiled a record of 8-13-2 so far this season, and has gone 5-4-1 in their last ten. While the record doesn't look all to good it does show that the team is growing. Last tear Maple Ridge managed just 7 wins in 50 games. This year they have already surpassed that in just 23 games. A large part of this years improvement is thanks to Turnbull. But he certainly hasn't done it all himself. The whole team has been contributing this year, with almost every player on pace to set new career highs.

Besides the full team "success" story, their have also been some personal ones. Defensemen Orlando MacNeil and winger Oscar Jakopin were acquired in the offseason in the trade that sent Nelson Kinnear to Pembroke. Both players had come onto the team with big "risk" labels attached to their resumes.

Oscar Jakopin was once a 24 goal scorer with Saskatoon. But his play had seemed to diminish over the last two years. After posting 27 points in 51 games in season 16, Oscar had just 6 points in 20 games last season. Unable to secure a spot throughout the year, he was sent to Maple Ridge... And now, he seems to have revitalized his career. Playing on the teams 2nd forward line Oscar Jakopin has recorded 8 goals and 7 assist for 15 points, in 23 games.

Orlando MacNeil is a former top prospect who was drafted 3rd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in season 12. The 24-year old former London Night was also acquired in the Nelson Kinnear deal. Orlando has been unable to establish himself in the TJHL so far in his pro career. Posting just 4 points in 46 games before his time in Maple Ridge. MacNeil is now finally realizing his potential in Maple Ridge. Receiving regular yet limited ice time he has accumulated 5 goals and 4 points in 16 games, also posting a solid +4 over those games.

While Maple Ridge seems to be in for yet another up and down year, the positives will far outweigh the negatives. The team has no where to go but up after last year. And if the teams players continue on their career high paces that many are on, they could find themselves in a playoff spot. And while Maple Ridge would love for their team to compete for the Maple Cup, they will not stray from their rebuild plan. If the team is far off from a playoff spot near the trade deadline, they will be sellers. If they find themselves at the top of the league, they will just stand pat. The team is not willing to trade away their future for older players. With that plan set, rumours will soon begin to swirl of who could possibly be moved...